Chair-brace.



W. S. BARKER.

CHAIR BRACE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 4, 1915.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

THE COLUMBIA PMNOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON, D. C.

' rrn FFTQ WALTER S. BARKER, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

CHAIR-BRACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented liIar. 21, 1916.

' Application filed January 4, 1915. Serial No. 332.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER S. BARKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Chair-Braces, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to braces for chairs, and has for its object the production of a brace particularly designed for use in connection with chairs of the knockdown type, which may be easily and quickly secured in place when assembling the chair, by simple tools, such as a hammer and screw-driver, and which is of light weight and very strong, thereby increasing the strength and durability of the chair, and which, although substantial, is cheap to manufacture, although said brace may be employed for other purposes.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a brace embodying this invention. Fig. 2 is a front view of the brace shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, and, Fig. 4: is a front View of a modified form of brace. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail of another modification to be referred to. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of another modification to be referred to.

Referring to Fig. 1, 10 represents end view of an arm, and 12 a leg of a chair, to which elements my improved form of brace is here shown as secured. In said Figs. 1 and 2 the brace is represented as composed of and struck up from sheet metal. It comprises a body-portion 30, of any desired length, which is transversely curved to give to it increased stiffness. It has at its upper end-portion a flat tongue 31, which is extended in the direction of the body-portion. and which is adapted to be driven into the arm 10, or into a hole which has been formed previously therein, and said tongue. as shown, has parallel sides and a V-shaped end, which latter is, or may be beveled; and said tongue has struck out of it a spur or barb 35, which is deflected with, respect to the tongue, as for instance, it may be bent inwardly, and said spur or barb, by engaging the wall of the hole in the arm 10, greatly assists in holding the tongue therein. In lieu thereof, the tongue may have barbs formed along its sides as represented in Fig. 5. The lower end-portion of said body is broadened, as at 32, and curved transversely, to afford a large bearing-portion especially adapted for engagement with the leg 12; and said bearing-portion has a hole 33, through it for an attaching-screw; and the material at the margin of said hole is bent inward, thereby to form a counter-sink for the head of said screw. Said bearing-portion is deflected at an angle with respect to the body-portion, so that when arranged in engagement with the leg of the chair. the body-portion will be arranged diagonally with res ect to said leg, in order that the upper end-portion of the body-portion may engage the arm 10, a short distance ofl side from the leg.

As the brace is composed of sheet metal and the tongue 31 is flat. said tongue will or may be bent at its junction with the bodv-portion, thereby to deflect it at an angle with respect thereto. The tongue may be driven into the hole in the arm 10, while in alinement with the bod -portion. as represented by full lines. Fig. 1, and subsequentl the bod -portion may be deflected toward the leg, thereby bending the tongue, as aforesaid, as represented by dotted lines. Fig. 1. The tongue is then caused to occupy a position substantially in parallel relation with the deflected bearing-portion of the lower end of the brace. Or b referring to Fig. 6. the tongue may be driven into a hole in the arm which is formed angularlv with respect thereto. thereby avoiding bending said tongue.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, a similar form of brace is shown, except that the tongue 40, at its upper end-portion, is made V-shaped, which form well subserves the purposes sought. although it will not be held in the hole in the arm with the same degree of security. owing to the omission of the barb or barbs.

I claim A. chair brace constructed of an integral length of material including a main portion of concaval-convex form in cross section, an angularly related bearing foot at one end of the main portion and a comparatively narrow tongue at the opposite end of the main portion, the main portion at its juncture With the tongues presenting bearing portions on opposite sides of the tongue.

In'testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

' WALTER S. BARKER.

' Witnesses l ANTOINETTE E. COLLINS, -EVELYN M. SWEENEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

- Washington, D. C. 

